Wedding Gowns The brides white gown has become so traditional that many cannot imagine anything else but this is relatively recent development in the Celtic lands. Anne of Brittany made the white wedding dress popular in 1499. In the 19th century colored bridal dresses were quite common at country weddings. Before that, a woman just wore her best dress. In biblical days, blue (not white) represented purity (as mentioned above), and the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of their wedding attire. I HAD BLUE BUT WELL IT WASNT VISIBLE, LOL The Wedding Veil The origin of the wedding veil is unclear but it is thought that it predates the wedding dress by centuries. One tradition comes from the days when a groom would throw a blanket over the head of the woman of his choice when he captured her and carted her off. Another is that during the times of arranged marriages, the brides face was covered until the groom was committed to her at the ceremony so he could not refuse to marry her if he didnt like her looks. Therefore, the father of the bride gave the bride away to the groom, who then lifted the veil to see her for the first time. It is also thought that the veil was worn to protect the bride from evil spirits that would be floating around on her wedding day. These various origins have all evolved into the tradition that the veil covers the brides face throughout the ceremony until the minister pronounces the couple man and wife and the groom then lifts the veil to kiss his new wife. WELL I DIDNT COVER MY FACE BUT KENNY DIDNT RUN EITHER, LMAO GUESS IT DID KEEP THE EVIL SPIRITS AWAY, LOL Selecting the Date In Ireland the last day of the old year is thought specially lucky for weddings. Childermas Day or Holy Innocents is, on the contrary, a very unlucky one. An old superstition holds that May is an unlucky wedding month, because of its association with the Virgin Mary, yet it is one of the most popular months for weddings, both in America and Ireland. JUNE IS A VERY LUCKY MONTH A sunny day is lucky, and a rainy one, unlucky. Christmas & New Years Eve are lucky times to get married. GOD TOOK AWAY THE RAIN AND THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL! You Marry on Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for crosses, Friday for losses and Saturday no day at all GOT THE MARRIAGE LICENSE ON A WEDNESDAY! Throwing the Bouquet The custom of the bride tossing the bouquet to the unmarried guests dates from the 14th century and probably originated in France. The woman who catches the flowers is supposedly the next to marry. BILLIE JO STEFFAN The same is supposedly true when the bride tosses her garter to the unmarried men. ERIC KING Something old, new borrowed and blue The full wording of this popular bridal attire rhyme, which dates back to the Victorian times is something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in your shoe. Something old refers to wearing something that represents a link with the brides family and her old life. Usually, the bride wears a piece of family jewelry or maybe her mothers or grandmothers wedding dress. MY MOTHER IN LOVE ASKED ME TO WEAR A PEARL BRACELET SHE HAD ME BORROW, THE NECKLACE, SHOES AND VEIL WERE ALSO OLD Wearing something new represents good fortune and success in the brides new life. The brides wedding dress is usually chosen, if purchased new, but it can be any other new item of the brides wedding attire. GOWN AND DIAMOND EARRINGS FROM MY SISTER ANGIE Wearing something borrowed, which has already been worn by a happy bride at her wedding, is meant to bring good luck to the marriage. Something borrowed could be an item of bridal clothing, a handkerchief or an item of jewellery. ANNAS VEIL AND NECKLACE; MOMS BRACELET Wearing something blue dates back to biblical times when the colour blue was considered to represent purity and fidelity. Over time this has evolved from wearing blue clothing to wearing a blue band around the bottom of the brides dress and to modern times where the bride wears a blue or blue-trimmed garter. THE GARTER WAS NOT BLUE, I HAD BLUE THOUGH TRUST ME And a silver sixpence in your shoe Placing a silver sixpence in the brides left shoe is a symbol of wealth. This is not just to bring the bride financial wealth but also a wealth of happiness and joy throughout her married life. in the past, an Irish 5 pence coin could be worn in place of the sixpence in the shoe. IN TRUE RED NECK FLAIR IT WAS DUCK TAPED ON MY SHOE, HEADS UP Honking Horns Another ancient practice in some parts of Ireland is that of firing rifles and other weaponry into the air as the couple pass to salute the bride; of course over the past centuries this has occasionally been observed with devastating results. Honking the horns of the cars in the procession from the church replaces the firing of guns. LUKE ADAMS BLESSED US WITH THIS...GUESS THATS WHY WE HAVENT SEEN SOME FOLKS Carrying the Bride over the Threshold There seems to be two explanations for this tradition where the groom carries his bride over the threshold when entering their home as a married couple for the first time. The first is to protect the bride from evil spirits that were thought to be lying in wait under the threshold. The second explanation relates to Roman times when it was believed that if the bride stumbled when entering the newlyweds home for the first time, it would bring bad luck and harm to their marriage. So carrying the bride across the threshold would prevent this from happening, though no reference can be found of what happens if the groom stumbles or falls while carrying the bride. Third finger, left hand A brides engagement ring and wedding ring are traditionally worn on the third finger of the left hand. Although the origin of this tradition can not be precisely pinpointed there are two strongly held beliefs. The first, dates back to the 17th century where during a Christian wedding the priest arrived at the forth finger (counting the thumb) after touching the three fingers on the left hand ...in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The second belief, referring to an Egyptian belief that the ring finger follows the vena amoris, the vein of love that runs directly to the heart, means that wearing the rings on this finger is closest to the heart. Leaving the Wedding In centuries past, an Irish bride returned home by a different path with her new husband than she took to the church or wedding with her father. This may have begun as an attempt to avoid pranks (which often involved kidnapping), but also symbolizes that she travels a new road in life as well. YEP MY SIS CAME IN OFF OF 997 AND WE WERE TAKEN BACK VIA ROUTE 30 Banns Banns of marriage were required in areas under British rule, including Wales, Heritage Of Scotland and Ireland. The banns consisted of an announcement in church for three Sundays prior to the wedding. This prevented people from marrying in haste and also gave any who might object time to learn of the match. Giving three months notice to the registrar is still a legal requirement in Ireland. Irish Superstitions ENOUGH SAID In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Irish believed that if the sun shone on the bride, it would bring good luck to the couple. JUST LOOK AT TONI COLDSMITHS PICTURE It was also lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning or to see three magpies. HEARD BIRDS AS WE PICKED UP AMANDA After the wedding ceremony, it was important that a man and not a woman be the first to wish joy to the new bride. CANT REMEMBER BUT THINK IT WAS MAGGY Some other Irish superstitions and customs are: Its good luck to have your birthstone in your engagement ring, even if that stone is otherwise thought to be an unlucky gem. The earrings you wear on your wedding day will bring you luck & happiness ever after. WELL ANGIE, THERES OUR SIGN! Its lucky to tear your wedding dress accidentally on your wedding day. HOW ABOUT MUD?! Its good luck if a happily married woman puts the veil on you, but bad luck to put it on yourself. MOM PAM IS HAPPILY MARRIED AND SHE PUT THE VEIL ON Its lucky to be awakened by birds singing on your wedding morning. If you look at the sun when you leave for your wedding, your children will be beautiful. THEY ALREADY ARE, ALL 6 Here are some more: * Bunratty Meade is a honey wine thats served at the Bunratty Castle medieval banquet. Its from a recipe based on the oldest drink in Ireland and if youve never tasted it, its well worth trying. In the old days, it was consumed at weddings because it was thought that it promoted virility. (If a baby was born nine months after the wedding, it was attributed to the mead!) Couples also drank it from special goblets for a full month following the wedding, which is supposedly where we get the word honeymoon. This was to protect the couple from the fairies coming to spirit the bride away. HAD A SWEE SPIRIT FOR COMMUNION * Lucky horseshoe. Irish brides used to carry a real horseshoe for good luck. (Turned up so the luck wont run out). You can get porcelain horseshoes which most Irish brides carry these days, or one made of fabric which is worn on the wrist. HAD A WHOLE GAME OF HORESHOES * Magic Hanky. This charming custom involves having the bride carry a special hanky that with a few stitches can be turned into a christening bonnet for the first baby. With a couple of snips it can be turned back into a hanky that your child can carry on his/her wedding day. * Make-up bells. The chime of bells is thought to keep evil spirits away, restore harmony if a couple is fighting, and also remind a couple of their wedding vows. Giving a bell as a gift has become an Irish tradition. You could also have your greeters hand out tiny bells to your guests to ring as you process. (You might want to let them know when theyre supposed to be rung - perhaps mention it in your program along with an explanation of the custom). Guests could also ring their little bells at the reception in lieu of clinking glasses. HAD THEM BUT NO ONE RANG THEM * Irish Dancers. Consider hiring a group of Irish dancers to hand out your programs before the ceremony. Dressed in their full regalia, it would add a wonderful touch of of pageantry and color. They could also dance at the reception later. We did this at my daughters reception and it was a major hit. * Music. Theres so much wonderful Irish Medieval History music available, youll have no problems in finding appropriate selections for both the ceremony and the reception. The difficulty will be in deciding which pieces to play! CELTIC CANON D AND AE MARIA * Readings: My daughter had the following Irish wedding vow on the front of her program: By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me. As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me. As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, oh one that I love, til death comes to part us asunder. On the back of the program, she had this old Irish proverb: Dont walk in front of me, I may not follow. Dont walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and just be my friend. * The Irish Wedding Song. Very popular at contemporary Irish weddings. We had two friends sing this at my daughters reception while the newlyweds cut the cake. (Afterwards I thought we should have had the lyrics typed up and placed on the tables so that everyone could join in). * Flowers. In the old days, many Irish brides wore a wreath of wildflowers in their hair; they also carried them in bouquets. For my daughters wedding, our florist designed gorgeous bouquets that included a flower called Bells of Ireland. In Wales, brides carried live myrtle and gave a sprig to each bridesmaid which they planted. If it grew, the bridesmaid would marry within the year. If youre planning a more general Celtic celebration, this might be worth considering. * Ancient custom: In the old days, couples ate salt and oatmeal at the beginning of their reception: Each of them took three mouthfuls as a protection against the power of the evil eye. Also, when a couple is dancing, the bride cant take both feet off the floor because the fairies will get the upper hand. Fairies love beautiful things and one of their favorites is a bride. Theres many an Irish legend about brides being spirited away by the little people! For the same reason, its bad luck for a bride to wear green. Ive also heard that its bad luck for anyone to wear green at an Irish wedding - but I think it really only applies to the bride. Its also bad luck for a bride or the groom to sing at their own wedding. OOPS Portents and omens: * A fine day meant good luck, especially if the sun shone on the bride. If youre a Roman Catholic, one way to make certain that it wont rain is to put a statue of the Infant of Prague outside the church before your ceremony. * It was unlucky to marry on a Saturday. OOPS * Those who married in harvest would spend all their lives gathering * A man should always be the first to wish joy to the bride, never a woman JEFF I THINK WAS? *It was lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning, or to see three magpies * To meet a funeral on the road meant bad luck and if there was a funeral procession planned for that day, the wedding party always took a different road SAW ONE BUT THEY WERE PARKED * The wedding party should always take the longest road home from the church * It was bad luck if a glass or cup were broken on the wedding day *A bride and groom should never wash their hands in the same sink at the same time—its courting disaster if they do * It was said to be lucky if you married during a growing moon and a flowing tide HOW ABOUT FULL MOON?? * When leaving the church, someone must throw an old shoe over the brides head so she will have good luck * If the brides mother-in-law breaks a piece of wedding cake on the brides head as she enters the house after the ceremony, they will be friends for life. Many other customs are interspersed throughout the book, e.g. (from the reception section) the top tier of your wedding cake should be an Irish whiskey cake which is saved for the christening of your first baby. Ive also heard of another custom which just came to my attention and will be included in the next edition: a bottle of champagne is saved from the reception so that it can be used to wet the babys head at the christening. GOT THE TOP LAYER In finally making this book a reality, my hope is that when he says to you would you like to be buried with my people, or you say to him would you like to hang your washing next to mine, youll say yes, and then use the suggestions to help you plan an Irish celebration reflective of your roots and as romantic as your heritage. And for all engaged couples and their families in the midst of pre-wedding chaos, I raise a parting glass: May all your joys be pure joy and all your pain champagne. Sláinte! Bridget Haggerty
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 05:57:26 +0000
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